The 4 star Baia di Ulisse was entirely renovated in 2008 and has certainly managed to keep itself young, both in terms of its decor and its furnishings, which demonstrate a certain olde worlde sophistication. It is clearly proud of its traditions and its wealthy lands. The owners of the Baia di Ulisse have tried to make the hotel feel like an elegantly-appointed private residence through the use of vases, ceramics, candelabras, antique furniture, large rugs and valuable paintings (have fun trying to pick out the original Guttuso sketches, among other things!). In the evenings, or when the after sun is it its least forgiving, you'll often find many of the guests taking refuge in the small lounge area, which is shared with the bar. Sitting comfortably on one of the red sofas arranged in a semi-circle around the television, with rugs on the floor and the lacquered wooden window full of carefully arranged ornaments, you'll soon feel right at home here. This is also one of the few Sicilian hotels to provide a computer corner with Internet access, though unfortunately, when we tried to get online, the system wasn't working very well. The bar adjoining the small lounge area opens on to an indoor area furnished with high tables and red chairs and a very appealing outdoor terrace overlooking the sea and the swimming pool. Sheltered from the sun by a large white parasol, the elegant wicker armchairs are conducive to one thing only: relaxation. Even those who love the pool and would usually prefer a good diving session, or even a swim, generally end up giving in to the relaxing surroundings of this hotel, where everything is geared towards peace and quiet: The comfortable wooden and white fabric loungers, rather than the usual plastic ones, the private pine forest that runs right down to the beach, and the path leading to it, which is edged with beds of colourful flowers. The amphitheatre is also set amid the trees, and despite its distance from the sea, the setting makes it a pleasant stroll. All sporting activities are organised on the beach.